Best wishes pour in on Twitter for Ryder

"Four men" attacked Ryder as he left Aikman's Bar in Merivale shortly after midnight (around 12.30 a.m. local) early Thursday after having "a few drinks" with Wellington Firebirds teammates, The New Zealand Herald reported.

The "brutal assault" has left Ryder in an induced coma with a fractured skull and multiple injuries.

The New Zealand team's official Twitter page said: "The whole NZC team's thoughts are with (Jesse) this morning."

Jesse Ryder

Former Australian pacer Damien Fleming wrote on twitter: "Our thoughts to Jesse Ryder in intensive care after being assaulted. Shocking news."

The left-hand batsman, who has been involved in alcohol-related incidents in the past, was due to leave for India to represent Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League beginning April 3.

IPL CEO Sundar Raman wrote on twitter: "Not the best cricketing news to wake up to. Jesse Ryder get well soon."

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said: "Oh dear, it looks really bad for jesse ryder." He added: "my first thoughts on reading the jesse ryder news were about david hookes; a valued colleague and a friend. bars are so so over-rated."